THE LION’S WHELPS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 280, 21 August 1915, Page 7

THE LION’S WHELPS.

LOYALTY OF NEW ZEALAND. (By the Hon. Tiros. Mackenzie, High Commissioner for the Dominion.) The glowing tribute to the gallantry of the Australians and New Zealanders at Gallipoli, paid by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the memorial service at St. Pauls Cathedral last month, has not unnaturally aroused in--1 terest as to the state of public opinion in the Austral Dominions respecting the war and the attitude of mind of those who may be called upon or may volunteer to serve the Empire in a foreign land. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, in the course of a special interview with ‘a representative of the Sunday Times, expressed himself as follows: “It is difficult to find a word or even a phrase in which a true impression- of the spirit in which tire youth and manhood of New Zealand view tills war and their duty and responsibility in regard to it. But I will use the word cxcelelnt in its fullest and best sense. There is a turbulent eagerness among our young men of all classes to join their fellows at the front and share with them the honour of fighting for King and Empire. And this eagerness, it is well worthy of note, is shared and exhibited by the Maoris, a striking proof, is proof be necessary, of how widespread and deep-seated is the loyalty of the citizens of the Dominion. The righteousness and justice of the Allies' cause appeal to the heart and imagination of Now Zealanders, while the revolting barbarities of the Huns, who have trampled Peace under their savage feet, have caused that ‘leap of heart whereby a people rise up to a noble anger's height.' “The thrilling work done by the New Zealanders and their Australian and other comrades at Gallipoli will, I am convinced, inspire our youth with an irresistible longing and determination to emulate such deeds. It is hardly possible for them to surpass what has been done, but that they will do nil that men can do —all that men dare to —is undoubted. The opportunity has been offered to the sons of the hardy poineers, the men who went forth to conquer the rough places on our many frontiers, to show to the world that j the race from which they sprang has j not weakened in spirit or in fibre, but I is still able to uphold and prove itself worthy, and more than worthy, of its highest traditions, j “There is, unfortunately, a fondon--1 cy, as I learn from Several quarters," Mr. Mackenzie continued, “to cable I or mail to Now Zealand, and doubtless to other places abroad, harrowing de- | scriptions of the war, thus unneeessav- ( ily and most inadvisedly, intensifying the anxiety of the mothers and wives of those who are either at' the front or are burning to go; and deepening the sorrow- of the bereaved who in on: brave ranks: i

■ —Only sec the gaps, Thinking of dear ones whom tTfio dumb turf wraps, Dark to the triumphs which they died to gain.

“Terrible as is the toil that the war I has already demanded, terrible as it j ™ay yet be, I venture to say without *, hesitation that the fame, more enduring than bronze, won by our men in face of the enemy will serve to fire the ardour of our youth. In no spirit of callousness, but in a lofty spirit of true Imperialism they regard this death-roll as the price which they have oen called upon, as others have been cabled upon, to contribute to for the safety, integrity, and honour of the Empire, and they arc prepared to face A he risk, not in mere bravado, but with resolute patriotism. I can speak with the experience of a father on this noint. One son of mine is already at the front, and others are clamouring to go. “There is no evidence among our youth, so far as I can judge, of the indolence of indifference or the apathy of i>noranep, Onito the reverse. They realise th gravity of the issue. Their

sports and pastimes arc forgotten, and their leisure is devoted to fitting thenselves to play their part. It would be well if this spirit were universal throughout the Umpire. Waterloo, it has been said, was won on the playing grounds of Eton; but at a time ifke this our playing fields might well become parade grounds whereon all 3 r ouths would learn to play the man;; ost game of the moment. ‘‘ The wounded who have boon sent home from the front are showing a spirit which should shame the shirkers. It is amazing to find how these gallant follows who have faced and endured the horrors of war are burning with desire to be in the fighting line again. During the last, few weeks I have, made it part of my duty to visit 1113- won need countrjnmen in our hospitals here, and the one feeling dominant in the breasts of all is the desire to return to the front and stand shoulder with their comrades. Wounds and suffering arc forgotten in their longing to have a further share in this worldstruggle for the rights of humanity and civilisation. "B - virtue of the achievements of their sons the Oversea Dominions now occup3” a position of which any nation might we?l be proud; but if T mistake not, the feeling uppermost in the minds of the soldiers of the King, no matter what part cf his far-flung Empire they come from, is an invincible resolve to see that Empire emerge from this conflict crowned not onl3 r with victory- but with gl orx. ’’